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Writer's pictureNick Moussa

Effective Auto Mobile Detail Routine

Updated: Dec 17, 2024

If you are aiming to have a spotless finish on your vehicle every time, you require a thorough auto mobile detail process that covers every step from deep cleaning the interior to a thorough detail of the exterior. Whether you are a professional detailer or just a car lover and enthusiast, this comprehensive guide for mastering the process will take you through each phase of an effective detailing routine to make sure you achieve consistent satisfying results.


Auto Mobile Detail

Main steps in process of Auto Mobile Detail


Step 1: Start with the Interior

In this guide we are starting with the interior which is very common among many detailers. But if the car is extremely dirty, you might want to consider starting with the exterior to cover the door jambs during the washing procedure, as a little bit of water might splash inside while pressure washing them.

- Blow Out the Interior: Begin by moving the front seats back and forth and use an air gun to clear any dust or debris from under and at the sides of the seats. Also use the air gun to clean the tiny cracks on the dashboard and console, especially the air vents. This step ensures that all dust and debris are now in an easy-to-reach spot so your vacuum can deal with them. You might to use a detailing brush in this step as well to tackle some crevices and tight spots.

- Prepare the Steamer: If you plan on using a steamer during the interior cleaning process, don't forget to plug it in first to allow it to warm up. Some detailers prefer to use soap extractors instead of steam cleaners which is also fine.


Step 2: Thorough Vacuum 

After blowing out the interior with your air gun, and after cleaning all cracks and crevices, the next step that will make your car start looking clean is the vacuum. A deep & thorough vacuum is critical prior to any shampooing or steam cleaning as you do not want to keep larger particles of debris and spread them later on while shampooing.


Step 3: Shampooing or Steam Cleaning

To clean your carpet, seats and other surfaces from unwanted stains, you will need to shampoo the affected areas and extract them with a soap extractor or a wet & dry vacuum machine or use a steam cleaner if you have one to target specific stains inside the vehicle. Do not aim the steam cleaner at a single spot for a very long time as the heat going out of the machine might damage certain surfaces.


Step 4: Wiping the interior

After we have cleaned all the cracks, crevices, air vents and all the carpets, it is not time to give all plastic and leather surfaces a wipe to complete the interior cleaning of the car. Wiping with water might be fine if the surfaces are only affected by dust, but in some cases you might need to use special surface cleaner like plastic or leather products.


Step 5: Wheels First on any Exterior Auto Mobile Detail 

A proper auto mobile detail process always starts with the wheels. Wheels accumulate most of the dirt, dust and road grime and that's why they need to be cleaned first to avoid contaminating the exterior of your vehicle again after wash.

Pre-rinse you wheels properly then spray some degreaser or a soap solution on and inside the wheels and rims, the use a long brush to reach the inner areas. After brushing the inside and outside of your wheels, rinse them properly to check if there is no dirt left behind. If your wheels were very dirty, you can do a second stage cleaning by spraying an iron & fallout remover, let it sit on the wheel for a couple of minutes and then rinse it off.


This is most common step in the auto mobile detail process, but arguably the most important and most difficult step as well. Start pre-rinsing your vehicle properly with your water pressure machine. Then attach your foam canon and spray the whole car with a thick layer of high-grade foam. Use a microfiber cloth or wash pad to scrub the whole exterior. Rinse again and dry with a microfiber towel. If required, you might need to perform a clay bar decontamination stage to smoothen out the paint and remove any unwanted stuck debris from the paint.


Step 7: If the car has a lot of swirl marks and light scratches or imperfection in the paint, you might need to consider executing a paint correction procedure to reduce the marks and improve the slickness and shine of your vehicle.


Step 8: Protection and Final Touches 

The final phase of any premium auto mobile detail includes adding protective layers and a few final touches to ensure long-lasting shine and cleanliness.

- Paint Protection: Apply a protectant spray to the exterior. The most common forms of protectant sprays these days are known as Ceramic Sealants. They do almost the same work of ceramic coating, only they do not last as long as the real deal. But high-grade ceramic sealants can give you protection for up to 6 months. Interior protection can also be applied to leather, plastic and fabric surfaces.

- The final touches can include cleaning the windows, applying some tyre dressing, and doing a final check-up to make sure nothing is missed.



Following a consistent auto mobile detail routine ensures each vehicle looks as good as it can be. The objective is to impress clients and maintaining the vehicle’s condition for a longer period of time. If you have the knowledge and experience, with the right tools and techniques you can achieve exceptional results every time. So whether you are detailing for business or personal, this auto mobile detail routine is all what you need to deliver a showroom finish.


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